Rangers sign Derek Lowe to minor-league contract

Free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe has agreed on a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers, the club announced Wednesday night.

The Rangers also announced that the contract includes an invite to major-league camp and Lowe will report to Surprise, Arizona Friday to join his new team.

With the recent injury to Martin Perez, the Rangers have a hole at the back of their rotation until either Perez, Colby Lewis (Tommy John surgery last July) or Neftali Feliz (Tommy John surgery last August) are able to return. Lowe could fill that No. 5 starter spot or be used in relief, as he did once the Yankees acquired him last season, if he makes the team.

Lowe, 39, was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA and 1.69 WHIP last season with the Indians as a starter. So, basically, he was awful. In 17 relief appearances for the Yankees, however, Lowe posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and stranded nine of his 10 inherited runners.

One item of note here is that Rangers Ballpark is one of the best home run parks in the majors, and Lowe, a sinkerballer, has only coughed up 0.7 home runs per nine innings in his career.

While the Rangers still haven't ruled out adding anyone else, there's a report that they will not sign free-agent starter Kyle Lohse.

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